Three Elementals advance along a corridor in an industrial zone. Packs of strange soldiers aggressively close with them, showing little regard for their own lives. More lethal means will need to be employed.

The near Ele has a preference for heavy loadouts. Full armor, conventional weapons, and a developing specialty in particle manipulation grant her impressive ranged offense and solid defense at the cost of mobility.

The middle Ele is the predictably unpredictable type. She likes blades, being able to form them with varying properties for the task. This also gives her an edge in manipulating her defensive shielding, being able to strengthen or minimize it where and as needed.

The far girl is a specialist at thermally manipulating her shields. From non lethal attacks such giving soldiers heat stroke and jamming their weapons, to escalated forms like a burning wave of energy, she is very versatile offensively. Eventually this skill will develop into being able to melt through tank armor.

Heres something I worked on for a few nights spread out over a few weeks, glad to get it done. I wanted to show off one of the more uniquely techniqued Elementals I've thought up.

This Elemental has developed an interesting way of utilizing her shields. Instead of the most common wall and linear motion force attacks, she uses rotational motion to build up kinetic energy in what appear to be invisibly tethered shield blades.Standing with a varying number of these cycling points surrounding the suit, which can have their attributes adjusted in many aspects, all generator power can be concentrated into extremely precise and potent attacks of defenses. While a great offensive tool, having the same requirement of precision for defense leaves the user vulnerable, so elevated care in battlefield awareness is a must.How these forces at play operate still sits in a theoretical state for the scientists and technicians that work with the Elementals, continuing to show how little is known about the true potential and nature of the material that runs shield generators.

Haven't tried this idea out for almost 3 years.An Elemental wearing a soft armor layer to protect areas with sensitive equipment. She deploys inconspicuously with an infantry squad in a low power state. When the need arises all the added gear will be dropped and the shield generators spun up.

One of my favorite pieces from the Contact book, maybe because I came up with the idea for this one, or at least part of it.

Showing off some of the high tech gear you can put on the field in Contact. Power armor with anti-gravity packs, plasma rifles, and particle cannons. All while jumping from your supersized vtol, explosions to your back

A powered muscle suit with supplemental appliqué armor, and underneath it all a not quite typical soldier.Working in squads, these pack hunters are notorious for aggressively hunting down opposing infantry and power armor. Their purpose specific loadouts often leave them lacking potency versus armor and mech units however, so they avoid such threats with their high battlefield mobility.

A quick painting from my new years live stream, more Elementalzzz for the masses.

Now for some of that classic technical stammering, if not completely related to this image.Elementals skilled in the Mass discipline of shield manipulation are able to apply forces to the materials around them. The combat application of this ability is often limited to defense against solid projectiles and making close range attacks.In the desert or any location with abundant loose and light materials, top ground layers can be almost explosively forced up, creating a small artificial sand storm. Caught in the open against numerous forces, this decision to change the playing field can aid the Elemental in switching from a defensive ranged stance to an up close melee.

Where do soldiers go after they are discharged from military service? Some go home, some, get back into the fight.

My original incarnation of the Rangers was as a pseudo mercenary unit, I later shifted them into government military but have maintained that there will be military contractors in the story.

This soldier is from a notable merc unit, which largely employs ex Rangers, and has attained the industry and political leverage to acquire some of their restricted technology. The regular joke is "buy everyone's gear and rent it back to them"

This Elemental isn't quite the real deal though. The technology and a skilled pilot are there. Only the lack of highly potent learning AI and it's coupling with the pilot and machine will prevent the suit and pilot from becoming what they're truly capable of. Hence the abundance of additional combat gear.